26 Emo Bands That Got Us Through Our Teenage Years

Let’s take a moment to reflect on emo music from the 2000’s. It’s only been, like, a decade, but you know you’re ready to face those memories.

Some think emo altogether died. Others think it’s been sucked into the other genres it was closely associated with, such as pop punk, indie rock, or screamo. I’ve fallen so far out of the emo scene, I’m not even sure what it looks like anymore, but I do know this: It helped me and many others get through middle school and high school.

When all that teenage angst would build up, Chris Carrabba was always there to ease the pain — the pain that often wasn’t, but prevailed nonetheless because…emo. Jim Adkins’ voice through my boombox on the floor of my room was all I needed to get over the fact that my shaggy-haired crush would never love me like I loved him. I’m so much better because of these emo dudes voicing my feelings better than I could at the time, and you know you are, too.

Here are some of the many emo bands that helped us blossom into the perceptive and reflective adults we are today.